I'm looking to buy my son a new guitar for Christmas and want to know what I'm buying. My local store has a Squire Strat with number "311551164" and "crafted in china" on the back. Is this a bullet, affinity or other? The guy at the local store was not sure.

MUST HAVE PICS......

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

That tiny decal on the ball of the headstock might say, Affinity Series, etc...

If you post in the squier part of the forum, you may get some more helpful replies.

But pictures would be good too.

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"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

I'm guessing CV. Most CVs I've seen have been made in China, while Affinities and Bullets have been made in Indonesia. Just a guess.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

My Affinity Tele is made in China.

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Bill

Notice I said most. I was going off of what I had seen in person. (GC and my local shops)

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I think production switched from Indonesia to China some time ago. Heck, even my Ibanez is made in China.

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Bill

here are some photos I took with my Blackberry today at the shop. Sorry, I posted here before I realized there was a separate Squier forum. They have this priced at $199 which is why I suspected Bullet or affinity.

It's this one. It should come as a package with a small amp:

http://media.fmicdirect.com/squier/imag ... lg_001.jpg

The entire kit, guitar and amp plus accessories, sells for $199.99 at Guitar Center. So if they are selling just the guitar for $199, they are overcharging by at least $60.00.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-SE-S ... 1177837.gc

Although it looks like one, it is NOT a Classic Vibe 60's as you can see by comparing the headstocks:

http://media.fmicdirect.com/squier/imag ... lg_001.jpg

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Bill

That makes sense, they have the black with pearloid pick guard priced the same. Its to the upper left of the sunburst in the full photo.

My son has been playing acoustic for about 2 years. would this be a good first electric? If not which model should we look at?

If you son has been playing for two years already and is any good, he has already out grown the Squire SE package. If you have the budget, I would recommend the Classic Vibe series:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-Clas ... 1400993.gc

along with a small amp:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Must ... 1557505.gc

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Bill

You might want to do a bit of shopping around. I think the Guitar-Amp kit is a great start-off point for a 1st guitar but in your case I would look into the higher line Squier.
I was at my local shop yesterday afternoon and pulled down a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50's
Had a guitar that well made and set-up been available when I was 15 or so I would have been in Heaven. The catalog MSRP is about $550.00 so that will probably be about $350.00 in a shop and with the Holiday discounts probably even less.
Then consider one of the Mustang amps, You should be out the door for about $500.00, give or take.
If he has been playing for about 2 years, then it is time for a quality guitar, because 2 years is a junction point into wether he keeps playing or loses interest.
The Equipment is critical, a correctly setup Squier will be a joy to play which relates to allowing the player to expand his skills wether that be practicing Jazz, Blues or wherever the idea leads him. A badly set up guitar and an entry level one at that may be a reason to stop...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "